Peachy Picks Maison
If you are lucky enough to get one of the 158 seats outside at Maison, you will be exposed to amazing French cuisine, one of the best al fresco experiences in Manhattan, and top people watching. We were told that even Mayor Bloomberg had lunch here with Bono when U2 had a part of the city named after them...you know we love the Mayor but the verb worship does not even begin to approach the way Peachy is ecstatic about Bono and U2.
Bono- the next time you go, be sure to have lunch with Peachy too and maybe you will even be able to drink her there by then! Above is the poached lobster tail which was just tops from the Plateaux de la Maison.
Maison was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:
And, we are pleased to kick off our coverage of the Tour de France restaurants.
It is the season of Rose, starting now!
Tania Stevens was a delightful server all evening:
Tania was thoughtful in every aspect of the meal. From putting the rose in an ice bucket to making sure the oysters we could not finish were refrigerated during dessert, she was lovely. Though Maison is casual and outside, do not be fooled: the service here is just as fabulous as in more formal settings.
We began with some bread that was fluffier than clouds, made at Tour de France's own 404 bakery. The butter with a kick that accompanied it was addictive and Peachy thinks they should sell it to go! Peachy began with the Maison salad, which consisted of: frisee, escarole, plum tomatoes, hearts of palm, haricots verts, lardons, hard boiled egg. The roasted garlic vinaigrette was absolutely splendid and decadent and though we do not often indulge in salad dressing, this was simply too good to pass up. The vegetables were crisp, fresh and exactly what you'd want! You can also add chicken and more but we had it without extras.
Les Plateaux de la Maison was simply divine, and it is what you should order if you like seafood like Peachy Deegan. The lobster tail shown above was joined by three jumbo shrimp, and six east coast and six west coast oysters:
As you see the presentation was perfectly beautiful and the cold seafood we expect to become increasingly popular as the outside temperatures rise in Manhattan. Mignonette, Cocktail and Saffron Aoili sauces joined the seafood party, and a party it was!
The Apple Tarte was the perfect finish, in conjunction with the Irish Coffee. The service was incredibly quick and we were impressed with their alacrity as well. For a place that is open 24 hours it is apparent that everyone here is high energy and we love it! Executive Chef Mario Urgiles, who has spent 20 years in French Cuisine, came out to speak to us and he's spent the last 14 years at Maison...and the top-notch cuisine at Maison is testament to his talents and efforts. General Manager Arodi was a total peach to work with, from start to finish.
But don't just listen to Peachy alone. Our fabulous panelist said:
Is there anything more enjoyable than dining outdoors on a gorgeous spring evening in Manhattan? Thanks to the wonderful food, friendly staff, and lovely ambience at Maison, we were able to experience such an evening last night. Just steps away from Times Square, this popular eatery boasts one of the largest outdoor seating areas in the city. We were delighted to be seated off to the side of the outdoor dining area, which not only gave us privacy, but also provided the perfect location for people-watching (which is ALWAYS interesting in this city)! Our waitress, Tania, was attentive, pleasant, and very knowledgeable about the menu.
While we were perusing the menu, she brought us a basket of fresh, crusty bread (served with a yummy red pepper butter) and made a few recommendations. I ultimately decided upon the Goat Cheese Tart for my appetizer and the Steak Au Poivre (one of Tania’s recommendations!) for my entrée. The Goat Cheese Tart was not only beautifully presented, but it was absolutely delicious! The crust was light and flaky, and it was topped with sweet caramelized onions, tangy marinated goat cheese, and fresh, juicy red and yellow cherry tomatoes tossed with fresh basil and olive oil. The combination of flavors was outstanding, and the textures also worked very well together.
A terrific start to the meal! The Steak Au Poivre was also superb. Topped with green and black peppercorns and served in a brandy and green peppercorn cream sauce, the steak was expertly cooked and one of the tastiest steaks I’ve had in years. The creamy mashed potatoes on the side were also excellent. Although I was getting rather full, I had to force myself to put the fork down and leave some room for dessert! For dessert, I chose the delectable Berries Sabayon. The berries were fresh and light, and served in a sweet wine sauce. After my steak and potatoes, I was ready for something light and refreshing, and this hit the spot! To accompany my dessert, I joined Peachy in an after-dinner Irish Coffee, which was also prepared beautifully. As we are both Irish we totally blained it, with pinkies out of course!
Maison caters quite a bit to tourists and theatergoers due to its close proximity to Times Square, and provides quick and efficient service to those rushing to make a curtain, as we witnessed with several tables near us last night! However, for those who wish to enjoy a more leisurely meal, the staff is also quite accommodating, which can sometimes be a rarity in New York City! Indeed, we spent nearly two and a half hours there and did not once feel rushed or pressured to move along. Thank you to General Manager Arodi, Executive Chef Mario Urgiles and, of course, our wonderful waitress, Tania, for providing a truly exceptional dining experience!
Peachy Picks Maison!
